Solidaritas.net – Two thousand protesters from 160 civil society organisations that make up the People’s Sovereignty Movement (GRB) demonstrated at the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Jakarta on Wednesday October 14 in protest against the political elite’s about face and efforts to return to the New Order era of former president Suharto.

“One hundred and sixty organisations have joined this movement. We reject the UU Pilkada [law on regional elections that abolished the direct election of regional heads – JB] on indirect elections and reject the return to the New Order era”, said one of the student protesters, Ari Lamodjong.

The number of organisation that make up the GRB has risen from an earlier 130 groups to 160 after a large number of student organisations also joined.

The protesters brought various kinds of paraphernalia that enlivened the protest led by action coordinator Ilhamsyah. The GRB opposes the return to the New Order dictatorship which muzzled freedom expression, freedom of the press, freedom of association and other civil rights.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was 160 Organisasi Tolak Kembali ke Jaman Orba.]